Electrical switch



Dec. 28, 1943.

Filed March 20, 1942 R H mm M w M EA T VD m T u A M m L H WW 5 m ,7 F A a y EM 6 C 5% 70/Z 11W 4V n Patented Dec. 28, 1943 ELECTRICAL swrrcn William Wurdack, Jr., University City, Mo., assignor to Wm. Wurdack Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a, corporation of Missouri Application March 20, 1942, Serial No. 435,537 Claims. (01. 200-154) This invention relates generally to electrical switches and, more particularly, though not exclusively, to electrical switches of so-called snap type.

The invention has for its chief object the provision of an electrical switch of the type mentioned having means for yieldingly governing and silencing switch actuations.

The invention has for a further object the provision of an electrical switch of the type stated which may be economically and readily manufactured, which is compact. and durable, and which. is emcient in the performance of its intended functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the clains.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an electric switch embodying my invention, illustrating the blades thereof as in an on{ or circuit-closing position;

Figure 2 is an end view of the switch with its blades in a circuit-closing position, as in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view of the switch, illustrating the blades thereof as in shifting from an on to off or neutral position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the switch, illustrating its blades in off or neutral position; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the switch taken approximately on the line 5 5, Figure 4.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, A designates a suitable base-plate preferably of insulation material. per face of, and by means of suitable fastening members, such as screws I, secured to, the base A,-are angular plate extensions or terminals 2, 2, and 3, 3, of upstanding circuit contact-blades B, B, and B, B, as best seen in Figures 1 and 4, the blades B, B, and B, B, being disposed in aligning pairs suitably spaced longitudinally of base A and the blades of each of said pairs being also disposed in suitably spaced registering relation transversely of the base A, for purposes presently appearing.

Each of the contact-blades B, B, is of suitable height and formed preferably integrally at Disposed flatwise upon the up-' its upper end with an obliquely inwardly and upwardly projecting terminal-extension b, b, respectively, and also disposed flatwise upon the upper face of, and by means of additional fastening screws 1 secured to, the base A midway the contact-blades B and B, are angular plate or terminal-extensions 4, upstanding from which and disposed in parallel relation with respective pairs of opposed blades B and B, are reduced, neutral contact-blades C, as best seen in Figures 2 and 4.

D designates what may be termed the main frame of the switch, which is of open or skeleton formation, which in end elevation is of approximate U-shape, and which is constructed preferably of a single sheet of suitable metallic material cut away within its area and bent upon itself intermediate its ends to include spaced aligning bight or central wall sections 5 and leg extensions or side wall sections 6, 6, connected by preferably arcuate top wall sections 1, I, the frame D being disposed at itsbight sections 5 flatwise upon the base A in nicely centered rela- 'tion intermediate the neutral blades C transversely of the base A and with its upright walls 6, 6, in parallel aligning relation to the several blades B, B, and C, longitudinally of base A, as best seen in Figures 1, 2, and 4, and secured or fixed in such position as by means of suitable attaching screws 8.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the shanks 8' of the screws 8 are suitably elongated to project upwardly to center upon the frame base walls 5 suitable upstanding coil springs E, which, in turn, yieldingly or elastically support within the confines of the frame D an insulation block F provided upon its opposite side faces with opposed laterally outwardly projecting studs or pins 9 fitting and working in vertically disposed registering closed-end slots I0 in the frame side walls 6. Thus the block F, which is of approximate oblong-rectangular contour or conformation, is adapted for substantially free floating movement both centrally and at its opposite ends, as it may be said, within the limits of the slots ill, for purposes presently appearing.

Upon its upper face, the block F is formed centrally with a depression or recess ll, extending outwardly from which in opposed relation are cam faces l2, I2, of suitable arcuate form or contour, as best seen in Figures 1, 3, and 4.

Transversely engaging the frame top walls I I in nicely centered registration over the neutral blades C, is-a pivot-pin l3, and pivoted on pin l3 for oscillation intermediate the frame side and top walls i, 1, is a switch manipulating lever G comprising a body-member or section a and an outwardly presented handle it. As best seen in Figures 1, 3, and 4, lever-section or bodymember a is in the form of an insulation block of somewhat heart-shape in side elevation, having side walls I! converging into a downward y presented tip it gently rounded or of arcuate I central body-portion I8, oppositely obliquelyout-- wardly and downwardly projecting from the i ends of which are jaws IS, IS, having oppositely flaring cars 20 providing throat-like entrance to the space therebetween, the respective pairs of jaws I 9 being co-operably adapted for sliding upon and conductively engagingthe fixed contact-blades B, B, and C.

Suitably mounted upon, and secured as by the .screws Ito, the base A, are binding posts 2|, and

ingly impinging the lever for brakewise governing oscillatory movement thereof and its carried jaws. v

I 2. In an electric switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, a frame comprising spaced parallel walls in fixed relationto the blades, a

lever including a block having pivoted connection with the frame for oscillation between the walls thereof, jaws carried by said block for electrical engagement with the blades, and means including aspring-pressed second block adapted for movement at and between its ends intermediate theframe walls for yieldingly impinging the first block for brakewise governing oscillatory movement of the lever and its carried jaws.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, spaced conducting blades, a frame comprising spaced parallel walls in fixed relation to the blades, a lever including a block having pivoted connection with the frame for oscillation between the walls thereof, said block-having a downwardly presented arcuate tip, jaws carried by said block for electrical engagement with the blades, and

' means comprising a spring-pressed second block in use and operation, and assuming that the binding posts'Zl are suitably connected in the circuits governed by the switch or in which the switch is included, it will be evident that, when the handle ll of lever G is' in upright position, the jaws l9 will be disposed out of engagement with, and spaced between, the neutral blades C and the line-blades B and B, as shown in Figure 4. However, the lever G isoscillated to the left, as in Figure l, the jaws l9 will engage the neutral blades 0 and the line-blades B and thereby close the circuit therebetween, as indicated in Figure 1. On theother hand, when the lever G is actuated to the right, the one circuit is broken and the jaws l9 will'then engage the neutral blade C and the blades B and thereby close another circuit. During, however, all positions of the lever G, the block F is springpressed into, and has yielding surface or hearing, engagement, in the nature of a resilient brake, with the lever-block or section g and thus yieldingly cushions, as it may be said, oscillations of the lever G, silences snap actions thereof, and, at the same time, functions to yieldingly or resiliently brak'ewise govern or control oscillation of the switch-lever G and to hence retain the switch-lever G in any 'of its selected circuitclosing or circuit-opening positions.

The switch fulfills in every respect the objects stated, and it should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the switch may be made and substituted for those herein shown and'described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, in combinatiomspaced conducting blades, a frame in fixed relation to the blades, a lever mounted for oscillation on the frame, jaws carried by the lever for electrical engagement with the blades, and means including a block loosely mounted for floating movement at and between its opposite ends for yieldof approximate oblong-rectangular conformation having an arcuate and intermediately recessed upper face disposed between and having connection 'for floating movement at and between its endswith said walls, said block at its for electrical engagement with the blades, a pair of spaced coiled springs upstanding in the frame, and a second block having an arcuate and intermediately recessed upper face seated at its opposite ends and at its under face upon said springs and interposed in the frame intermediate the springs and first block, the second block under the influence of the springs having yielding engagement at its said upper face with sadi tip for resiliently governing movement of the lever and its carried jaws.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a base, spaced conducting blades fixed on the base, a frame comprising spaced parallel walls mounted on and upstanding from the base in fixed relation to the blades, a lever including a block having pivoted connection with the frame for oscillation between the walls thereof, said block having a downwardly presented arcuate tip, J'aws carried by said block for electrical engagement with the blades, a pair of spaced coiled springs upstanding in the frame, and means including a second block of approximate oblong-rectangular conformation disposed between and having for limited float movement slot-and-pin connection at its opposite ends with, the frame walls, the second block being seated at its opposite ends upon said springs and interposed in the frame intermediate said springs and the first block, the

second block having an arcuate and intermediately recessed upper face and under the influence of the springs having yielding engagement throughout its said upper face with said tip for resiliently governing movement of the lever and its carried jaws.

WILLIAM WURDACK, JR. 

